Tel Aviv: In a curious incident at the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, two members protested, disrupting US President Donald Trump’s address, on Monday. One of the protesters, Hadash Party leader Ayman Odeh, was holding a placard which read “Recognise Palestine”, The New York Times reported.
The other protester was MK Ofer Cassif, who is also a parliament member. Security quickly surrounded them and led them out of the main chamber, the report said.
Trump reacted to this, “That was very efficient”.
Earlier, Odeh had written on his X handle, "The amount of hypocrisy in the plenum is unbearable. To crown Netanyahu through flattery the likes of which has never been seen, through an orchestrated group, does not absolve him and his government of the crimes against humanity committed in Gaza, nor of the responsibility for the blood of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian victims and thousands of Israeli victims."
Donald Trump arrived at the parliament after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Addressing the parliament, Trump said that this is a day to give thanks to God. This is not just the end of war, but the end of death and terrorism and the beginning of an era of hope, faith and God, he said and praised Netanyahu's ‘courage’.
On the day, Netanyahu told the parliament he is “committed to this peace”, the Associated Press reported.
He added: “Today, the Jewish calendar marks the end of two years of war.”
The ceasefire started on Friday and included the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for hostages. The later stages of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire are still being worked out, however.